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Biomedical subjects

R Kasukawa

Publications and source records attributed to R Kasukawa.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Clinical effectiveness of lansoprazole in patients with gastric ulcers: evaluation of quality of ulcer healing based on endoscopic ultrasonographic findings.

The effects of lansoprazole (30 mg/day) in 18 patients with gastric ulcers and the quality of ulcer healing were studied using endoscopy (including dye endoscopy) and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). The results showed an 8-week endoscopic healing rate of 94.4% and an S2-stage shift rate of 11.1%. In dye endoscopic findings of 11 S1-stage patients, S1b healing with regenerated mucosa close to S2 was seen in 63.6%. In a study of EUS findings, E0 with few relapses and high quality of healing accounted for 44.4%. When E0 rates were compared with the scarring images seen in endoscopic findings, the rates were 100% for S2, 66.7% for S1b, and 33.3% for S1a. These results indicate that a high degree of ulcer healing was achieved with lansoprazole, as good contraction of the ulcer tissue and early maturation of regenerated epithelium were observed.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗

[A successful 5'-DFUR and CDDP combination therapy for an advanced gastric cancer complicated with multiple liver metastases].

A 71-year-old man with Borrmann type 3 gastric cancer with multiple liver metastases had been treated with 5'-DFUR 1400 mg/m2/day, p.o. day 1-day 4/2w and CDDP 80 mg/m2 i.v. day 5/4w, which was repeated for 4 cycles. After 2 cycle treatment, all metastatic lesions in the liver disappeared on the computed tomography scan, indicating a complete response. The primary gastric lesion was reduced, indicating a partial response. There was no significant side effect during the 4 cycles of this therapy. He is alive 6 months after the therapy with a partial response. This 5'-DFUR and CDDP combination therapy seemed to be effective for advanced gastric cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Concomitant use of prostaglandin E1 and prednisolone; inhibition of superoxide anion production by polymorphonuclear leucocytes.

We investigated the effect of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) or prednisolone on superoxide anion production by polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) stimulated by opsonized zymosan (OZ). The production of superoxide anion by PMN was significantly suppressed by treatment with either PGE1 or prednisolone. Concomitant use of PGE1 and prednisolone suppressed it significantly more than PGE1 or prednisolone alone. Both PGE1 and prednisolone suppressed the Ca2+ influx into PMN, which was a crucial event for production of superoxide anion in stimulation by OZ. The effect of concomitant use of PGE1 and prednisolone in vivo was confirmed in rat peritonitis. The additional use of PGE1 with prednisolone may provide a strategy to reduce the amount of prednisolone required in treatments.

Alprostadil↗

A case of autoimmune hemolytic anemia induced by IFN-beta therapy for type-C chronic hepatitis.

A 51-year old woman who had type-C chronic hepatitis developed autoimmune hemolytic anemia after 4 weeks treatment with a total 48 million interferon-beta, 6 million 8 times. Indirect Coomb's test turned from negative to positive through IFN therapy and a complication of asymptomatic primary biliary cirrhosis was confirmed by histologic findings of the biopsied liver which was performed during IFN therapy and a presence of anti-mitochondrial antibody. After stopping IFN therapy and adding prednisolone anemia improved in getting negative indirect Coombs test but remaining positive direct Coombs test.

Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune↗

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura complicated by intracranial hemorrhage in a 78-year-old male.

A 78-year-old male was admitted to our hospital with cutaneous hemorrhage, aphasia and somnolence. On physical examination, he appeared drowsy and complained of epistaxis and multiple purpura. His platelet count was 8,000/microliters with a high level of PA-IgG, but the coagulation time was normal. A CT scan of the head revealed a left temporal and right frontal hemorrhage. Bone marrow aspiration revealed abundant megakaryocytes. He was diagnosed as having idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura with intracranial hemorrhage. He was treated with prednisolone and azathioprine in addition to platelet infusions and high doses of gamma-globulin. After two months of treatment, the platelet count had risen to 40,000/microliters and his symptoms had subsided.

Aged↗

Analysis of human 65 kD heat shock protein mRNA using polymerase chain reaction in synovia of rheumatoid arthritis patients.

To examine the role of 65kD heat shock protein (HSP) on the etiology of RA, we investigated the expression of 65kD HSP mRNA in the synovia of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Synovial membranes from 10 patients with RA and 2 patients with non-inflammatory arthritis were examined for the expression of the 65kD HSP mRNA by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. The mRNA of 65kD HSP was detected in all 10 samples from the RA patients and in the 2 samples from the patients with non-RA using semi-quantitative PCR and the difference in its expression level between the two groups was found not to be significant. By sequence analysis of the 412 bp PCR products, the 65kD HSP protein was confirmed to be human-origin. These data suggest that the 65kD HSP expressed in rheumatoid synovia is human origin and the lymphocytic reaction to the HSP may play an important role in the pathogenesis of RA.

Adult↗

Effect of ethanol on DNA synthesis and c-met induction in Chang liver cells with long-term culture.

This investigation was performed to determine whether ethanol affects induction on Chang liver cells of the c-met protooncogene product (c-met), a cell-surface receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). These cells were cultured for 4 weeks with 5, 50, or 100 mmol/L ethanol, or 10, 100, or 200 mumol/L acetaldehyde. Ethanol was found to inhibit [3H]thymidine incorporation by cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, acetaldehyde at 100 mumol/L also inhibited [3H]thymidine uptake. Treatment with recombinant HGF led to enhanced [3H]thymidine incorporation by cells treated with ethanol or acetaldehyde as well as by those left untreated, with no significant differences in the rates of increase among these three cell groups. The amount of c-met messenger RNA, however, was unaffected by treatment with ethanol or acetaldehyde. Expression of c-met as measured by cell ELISA was also unchanged by both treatments. These results suggest that ethanol has no effect on c-met induction on Chang liver cells and that HGF may not be involved in the ethanol induced inhibition of DNA synthesis.

Cells, Cultured↗

Clonotype analysis of peripheral blood T cells and autoantigen-reactive T cells from patients with mixed connective tissue disease.

T cells that recognize autoantigens may play a central role in the autoimmune response. We have previously shown that autoantigen-reactive T cells (CD4+) to U1-small nuclear ribonucleoprotein A were found in the PBMC of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus or mixed connective tissue disease. To reveal clonotypes of such T cells that spread to the periphery, T cell clonal accumulations and their TCR-beta chain variable gene usages in fresh PBMC from eight patients with mixed connective tissue disease were analyzed by a new method of single strand conformation polymorphism applying to TCR gene detection. The results revealed that the numbers of accumulated T cell clones (mean: 24.3 clones) were greater than the numbers of clones detected in healthy donors (mean: 4.0 clones). Frequently used V beta genes in these accumulated T cell clones were V beta 1, 3, 4, 5.2, 14, and 16. After the stimulation for these samples with the soluble recombinant U1-small nuclear ribonucleoprotein A protein, proliferative T cell responses were observed. We found that T cell clones expressing more restricted TCR V beta genes (1, 3, 5.2, and 14 families) accumulated in vitro. These results suggest that autoantigen-reactive oligoclonal T cell accumulations are present in the peripheral blood from systemic autoimmune disease patients.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Antibodies to 65Kd heat-shock protein were elevated in rheumatoid arthritis.

Antibodies to 65Kd heat-shock protein (hsp) of mycobacterium leprae were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the three immunoglobulin classes in paired sera and synovial fluids of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Titers of anti-hsp antibody were expressed by optical density (OD) values for sera or indexes (OD values divided by amounts of immunoglobulin in each class) for synovial fluids and for their paired sera. Indexes of anti-hsp antibody were higher in synovial fluids than those in sera at 15/18 for IgG, 17/18 for IgA and 16/18 for IgM class. These results suggest the participation of anti-hsp antibodies to synovitis in RA.

Antibodies↗

A case of Behçet's disease with occlusion of both caval veins and "downhill" esophageal varices.

A case of Behçet's disease (BD) with occlusion of both caval veins and "downhill" esophageal varices is reported. A 59-year-old male patient had esophageal varices, established as the "downhill" type by endoscopy, venography, and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) scan. Venography via both jugular veins did not lead to the visualization of the superior vena cava (SVC), but revealed numerous collateral veins, which formed esophageal varices en route. Venography via both femoral veins did not lead to the visualization of the inferior vena cava (IVC), but revealed numerous collateral veins, which flowed into the portal vein together with the jugular flow. CE-CT scan revealed the disappearance of the SVC and the lower part of the IVC, below the hepatic vein. The patient was diagnosed as having BD, based on his history of recurrent oral and skin lesions over the past 26 years.

Behcet Syndrome↗

Soluble P-selectin in the plasma of patients with connective tissue diseases.

We measured the soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin) in plasma of 54 patients with connective tissue diseases and 12 normal controls by a 2-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay. Our purpose was 2-fold: to determine (1) whether the level of sP-selectin of such patients is higher than normal, and (2), if it is, whether it correlates with any of the laboratory data currently available. The mean levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were 306, 1,048 and 844 ng/ml, respectively, compared with 220 ng/ml for controls. The mean levels in patients with SLE and nephropathy, MCTD and either nephropathy or thrombosis, and malignant RA were 351, 1,116 and 1,721 ng/ml, respectively. No correlation was found between the levels of sP-selectin and other laboratory data (WBC, CRP, ESR, antinuclear antibody, RF, aCL) except the number of platelets (y = 0.057, r = 0.37). In the clinical course of patients with lupus nephritis and MCTD with nephropathy, sP-selectin became a sensitive parameter. Thus, the level of sP-selectin is higher than normal in patients with connective tissue diseases, especially when complications exist, and it does not correlate with any of the laboratory data currently available except the number of platelets. Measurement of sP-selectin levels should be included in the laboratory tests of patients with connective tissue diseases, especially when complicated by nephropathy or thrombosis.

Adolescent↗

Ulcerative colitis associated with Takayasu's disease.

A 25-year-old Japanese woman had both ulcerative colitis and Takayasu's disease and was positive for HLA-A24, BW52, and DR2. She was found to have thickening of the wall of the carotid artery on contrast-enhanced computerized tomography of the neck and chest. Prednisolone, beraprost, and sulfapyridine achieved rapid remission of both diseases.

Adult↗

[Three cases of respiratory failure of collagen diseases accompanied by syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH)].

We experienced three patients who have collagen diseases with respiratory failure accompanied by hyponatremia. They were one systemic lupus erythematosus patient with interstitial pneumonia, one rheumatoid arthritis patient with acute pneumonitis, and one dermatomyositis patient with pulmonary fibrosis and organizing pneumonia. In all 3 patients, hyponatremia appeared along with a decrease in arterial O2 partial pressure (PaO2) and the hyponatremia tended to improve when the PaO2 increased after inhalation of oxygen, even though their respiratory failure were not improved. In dermatomyositis patient, serum Na levels were over-corrected after increase in PaO2. The serum and urine osmolality, serum antidiuretic hormone (ADH) levels and clinical pictures demonstrated a presence of inappropriate secretion of ADH (SIADH) in all 3 cases when hyponatremia and hypoxia appeared. A close association between hyponatremia and hypoxia observed in 3 patients strongly suggested that their SIADH were associated with hypoxia since SIADH could be demonstrated by hypoxia. Therefore, it is important to realize that hypoxia-induced hyponatremia will be promptly corrected to hypernatremia by an oxygen inhalation, which could cause a lethal central pontine myelinolysis.

Adult↗

[Polyarteritis nodosa].

The following points on polyarteritis nodosa (PN) were presented: definition, difference between PN and vascular lesions in other collagen disease, diagnostic criteria, clinical symptoms and laboratory findings, clinical type, histologic stage, therapy and three case reports with two active vasculitis and one scarred vasculitis.

Adult↗

Proliferative response of synovial fluid mononuclear cells of patients with rheumatoid arthritis to mycobacterial 65 kDa heat shock protein and its association with HLA-DR+.gamma delta+ T cells.

OBJECTIVE: The proliferative response of mononuclear cells (MNC) in synovial fluid (SF) and peripheral blood (PB) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to mycobacterial 65 kDa heat shock protein (HSP65) was tested and the response compared with the percentage of HLA-DR+.gamma delta+ T cells in lymphocytes of SFMNC or PBMNC: METHODS: Proliferative response of MNC was measured by means of 3H-thymidine incorporation and expressed by means of the stimulation index. Percentage of HLA-DR+.gamma delta+ T cells in lymphocytes was measured by means of the 2-color flow cytometry method. RESULTS: Higher response of SFMNC than PBMNC to HSP65 was noted in 14 of 19 patients with RA. Stimulation indexes of RA-SFMNC correlated significantly with HLA-DR+.gamma delta+ T cell percentage in lymphocytes. CONCLUSION: In the SF of patients with RA, an accumulation of HSP65 reactive and HLA-DR+.gamma delta+ T cells was noted.

Antigens, Bacterial↗